HUCK-A-BACK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 27

HUCK-A-BACK

Huck-a-back was a shabby little gnome, who carried on a trade as a t pedlar, but he was often poor and : hungry because no one would buy his wares. They called him Huck-a-Back because he was a huckster and because he carried everything about on his little bent back. He lived in a small ; cave, lit by glow-worm lamps, and worked all night at a curious loom, weaving linen threads into cloth. Then. ; each day, he would take the result of I his night’s labour and attempt to sell it. “Of what use is it to us?” the fairies would ask. “We buy only gossamer silk and spun thistledown. Please go away.” “Nothing to-day, thank you.” tin- , rabbits would remark. “We are already clad in soft, warm fur.” “Why don’t you sell nuts or acorns?” the squirrels would ask, frowning j down at him and trying to frighten him away. “Try the Black Witch,” said the * birds. “We are already dressed in 1 feathers.” Now, Huc.k-a-Back was very much afraid of the Black ‘Witch, and he had never found sufficient courage to knock at her door, but hunger makes brave hearts beat in timid breasts and at length he determined to seek her out. “What do you want?” demanded the Black Witch, in a voice like thunder, as she opened the door. “If you please,” said Huck-a-Back, nervously, “I have some wonderful | linen cloth, woven on my own loom, and I should like you to see it.” “You look half starved,” said the Black Witch, quite kindly. “Come in and share some broth with me.” Then she looked at Huck-a-Back’s wares. “Why,” she exclaimed, “I have never seen such splendid material. It would b© useful for many purposes. My daughter is to be married soon and this would make excellent guest towels. Have you any more?” “Oh, p-plenty,” stammered the astonished Huck-a-Back. “Then I shall buy all you have. Now, drink this soup, Huck-a-Back, for it has magic properties.” Huck-a-Back emptied the bowl and found, all at once, that his little bent figure was changing. In a twinkling he became sturdy and straight, and his shabby look vanished. “Now, go home,” said the Black Witch, “and tell everyone you meet on the way.” So Huck-a-Back went home, singing a merry song: “The Black Witch has bought my stock in trade to make guest towels for her daughter, who is going to be married.” “We must have guest towels, too,” cried the fairies. “So must we,” chimed in the rabbits. “And we must keep in fashion,” said the squirrels. “Could we possibly use guest towels?” asked one bird of another.

Now Huck-a-Back is famous and rich, too, for he can sell all the cloth he weaves, but he does not forget the days when he was poor and hungry. He has a kind heart and all the wood creatures find a welcome at his door. —W.S.T.